Online law firm servicing regional areas way of future

AN ONLINE law firm services all of Australia, including regional areas across the Darling Downs, without meeting its clients face-to-face.

Virtual Legal was established in 2013, when Katie Richards learned that almost 85% of the world's population couldn't access basic legal assistance due to geographical constraints and just the sheer unaffordability of legal services.

She wanted to find a way that every person, no matter where they lived, or what they earned, had the ability to get basic help so they can make better decisions and live happier, more productive lives.

While the office is based in Brisbane, the firm aims to help people in metropolitan as well as regional areas who don't have access to legal assistance.

It is a small team with staff based in New Farm's head office, including Toowoomba solicitor Chris Burling, as well a team member in the Philippines, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Ms Richards said until Virtual Legal was born those in regional areas often had to pay whatever premium the local lawyer charged because they had no other option.

"There were options for conveyancing but no one that does full service and has the right technology to do it safely, or at the rates we can which is often 40% to 60% cheaper than some firms, or as quickly as we can.

"We provide a high level of personalised service to clients and yet charge well below many traditional firms. We are mission driven, so we focus on providing access and education in all that we do, and that drives our progress and system development far above any consideration of financial benefit for us."

The firm covers conveyancing, leasing, buying and selling of businesses and franchises, drafting business agreements and contracts and policies.

It also assists people with will and estate administration, trademarks, corporate and capital raising, structuring and setting up companies and trusts, and some less complicated family law tasks.

Ms Richards said the firm also provided people with loads of free education.

"We have created and provided more than 250 videos over the past three years on all different topics, hundreds of ebooks too," she said.

"We do a lot of work in animation now so the videos are even more entertaining, and that way legal doesn't feel so dry. We focus on giving as opposed to taking."

Virtual Legal will soon have the new Law on Earth self-service legal platform up and running, which is a system to assist everyday Australians.

"The cost rate will drop down to as little as 10% of using traditional law firms, plus it will operate 24/7 so you can chat to a lawyer at night or on the weekend," she said.

"Plus all other advisors too such as accountants, financial planners, business consultants."

Virtual Legal has been named a finalist in the 2018 Brisbane Young Entrepreneur Awards and will also be considered for inclusion in Business News Australia's exclusive Brisbane Top 40 under 40 entrepreneur lists.

The firm was also recently nominated for the Small and Succeeding Award at the Telstra Business Awards. While they didn't come away with the win, they were one of 23 finalists selected from more than 10,000 applicants.